In 2015, Art of Anarchy dropped their self-titled debut bringing another top notch supergroup to the hard rock forefront. Their second album “The Madness” opens up a whole new world for the band with the addition of Scott Stapp on vocals, replacing the late Scott Weiland. Powering the band are the guitars of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and John Votta with bassist John Moyer and drumer Vince Votta providing a rock solid backbone.
“The Madness” consists of 10 tracks of pure, arena hard rock with a nice melodic edge. “Echo of a Scream” and “1000 Degrees” are hard hitting rockers that truly pack a punch. Stapp has also brought a different touch to the group with his poignant yet powerhouse vocals and introspective lyrics. Mid-tempo tunes like “No Surrender” and “Changed Man” are a perfect fit for Stapp and bring a definite melodic, radio rock vibe to the record. Although the music runs melodic, Art of Anarchy hasn’t lost their hard edge with blistering riffs and intricate solos being the order of the day from both Bumblefoot and Votta. “Dancing with the Devil” provides a down right sleazy groove and the slower “Somber” is sure to be a live show highlight.
“The Madness” is a brilliant new chapter in the story of Art of Anarchy and a must listen for hard rock fans everywhere. Here’s hoping it’s the first installment of a very long book.
